Gestational Weight Gain Counseling Insights from Healthcare Providers and Saudi Women: Riyadh Mother and Baby...

Background: Monitoring and managing gestational weight gain (GWG) during antenatal care (ANC) is linked to better maternal and neonatal outcomes. The Institute of Medicine (IOM) guidelines are based on pre-pregnancy BMI and reduce obstetric risks. Pregnant women's views and healthcare providers' (HCPs) practices are key to effective GWG counseling. This study aims to: (1) investigate the proportion of women who received GWG advice per IOM guidelines, and (2) explore HCP practices and views on GWG counseling. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study of Saudi pregnant women who delivered within one year of the study and HCPs who provided ANC. Women provided data on demographics, pre-pregnancy BMI, recall of GWG advice, and their target GWG. HCPs rated their knowledge and counseling practices. Results: Of 1151 women, 48.8% were pre-pregnancy overweight or obese, 47.6% were normal weight, and 3.6% were underweight. Most women (74.5%) received no GWG advice, and only 8.8% followed IOM guidelines. Women with obesity and overweight were more likely to receive correct advice (15.5% and 11.5%), compared to 5.3% of normal-weight and 2.4% underweight women. Overweight and obese women were more likely to define the correct GWG (AOR = 2.84 and 5.85). Receiving proper advice greatly increased the likelihood of proper GWG definition (AOR = 7.13). Among 28 HCPs, 53.6% reported that women rarely ask about the GWG target. Nearly 93% of them weigh women at each visit, but only 21.4% set personalized GWG targets. Most HCPs (82.2%) viewed discussing GWG as a high priority, and 70% felt confident providing guidance on GWG, diet, and exercise. Conclusions: Many women receive no GWG guidance, and most advice does not align with IOM guidelines. Enhancing Saudi women's knowledge regarding GWG targets through health education, in conjunction with ongoing medical education for healthcare professionals concerning guidelines for GWG, represents modifiable factors and a critical opportunity to foster healthier pregnancy outcomes.